Common Garbage Disposal Mistakes Families Make in Summer

Summer can be hard on garbage disposals. With more cooking, kids at home, BBQs, parties, and family meals, your kitchen sees more food waste than usual. That extra use can lead to clogs, smells, jams, leaks, and disposal breakdowns.

The good news is that many garbage disposal problems can be prevented with better habits.

Mistake 1: Putting Grease Down the Disposal

Grease is one of the biggest causes of kitchen drain problems. It may rinse down easily when warm, but it can cool and harden inside the pipes. Once that happens, food particles stick to it and create buildup.

Do not pour grease, oils, or fats down the drain. Put them in a disposable container and throw them away once cooled.

Mistake 2: Grinding Fibrous Foods

Celery, corn husks, onion skins, and similar foods can wrap around disposal blades or create stringy clogs. These items should go in the trash or compost instead.

Mistake 3: Sending Pasta and Rice Down the Drain

Pasta and rice expand with water. Even small amounts can swell inside your pipes and contribute to clogs.

During summer gatherings, scrape plates into the trash before rinsing.

Mistake 4: Not Running Enough Water

Always run cold water before, during, and after using the garbage disposal. Water helps move food particles through the drain line.

Without enough water, debris can sit in the pipe and cause odors or blockages.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Bad Smells

A smelly disposal can be a sign of trapped food, buildup, or drain issues. If cleaning does not solve the odor, there may be a deeper problem in the drain line.

Mistake 6: Treating the Disposal Like a Trash Can

A garbage disposal is not meant to handle large amounts of food waste. It is designed for small scraps. Bigger cleanup jobs should start with the trash can, not the sink.

Signs Your Disposal Needs Professional Help

Call a plumber if your disposal:

• Hums but does not grind
• Leaks under the sink
• Drains slowly
• Smells bad after cleaning
• Trips the reset button often
• Makes loud grinding sounds
• Stops working completely

Putman & Son’s Plumbing provides professional garbage disposal repair and installation for homes throughout Metro Detroit.

Keep Summer Cleanup Simple

A working garbage disposal makes kitchen cleanup easier, especially during busy summer months. If yours is clogged, leaking, jammed, or unreliable, do not wait for the problem to get worse.

Call (248) 652-0990 or visit pnsplumbing.com to schedule service.